This document defines a recommended architecture for each of these sectors, for the sites, and for the enterprise. Since many facilities are located in remote locations and due to the various mine types, open pits, underground mines, and alluvial deposits; each use-case scenario will have its own specific set of challenges. However, most of these scenarios do have some common points of interest – the most prominent of which is that the industry in general is extremely energy and water intensive, and these are the major cost and environmental drivers affecting the profitability of the operations.

In terms of technologies, we are also seeing many challenges. Distributed sites, slow networks, data shadows, are all common concerns in harsh environments. In this regard, software infrastructure operating in this context must be both resilient and simple to deploy and manage.

OSIsoft’s PI System™ can integrate the distributed operational areas into one standardized information system for the site(s) and for the headquarters. This provides the company with access to real-time data from across the enterprise in one standard format, allowing users access to the necessary information that allows for quick reaction to operational issues, improving the ability to analyze past events more effectively, and making better planning decisions. Existing customers having implemented a PI System™ infrastructure following the architecture best practices in the mining and mineral processing industry have typically been able to:

Manage and report water consumption

Energy use monitoring across units and plants

Rollup metrics and report comparable KPIs to top decision makers

Monitor and report environmental performance and impact on communities

Survey safety and air quality in underground mines

Provide visibility over mobile equipment

Oversee operational states

Track product quality for continuous improvement

Implement condition based maintenance of critical assets

Reduce asset downtime and increase overall plant availability

Carry out six sigma projects

Improve production reporting and forecasting by integrating with business systems